The Best Coffee in Cape Town

We admit it, we’re coffee snobs. As digital nomads, we spend a lot of time in coffee shops, sipping espresso, using free wifi and munching on sugary baked goods. You will have no problem getting your caffeine fix in Cape Town as the city is packed with plenty of artisan roasteries and trendy cafes. Here are the top coffee shops you must visit.

Rosetta Roastery is located in the Woodstock Exchange shopping complex. The baristas here really know their stuff. They have a wide selection of beans from around the world and your barista will work with you to match your palette, talking with you about the amount of bitterness or sweetness you prefer in your espresso pull. Rosetta is more than just a place to get your caffeine fix- it’s a whole coffee experience. We recommend going here and chatting with the baristas to benefit from their knowledge. The interior is modern, minimalist and laid back. Rosetta makes a great pit stop before or after visiting the Old Biscuit Mill.

Mischu quickly became one of our favorite coffee shops in Cape Town. For a period of about three weeks, we visited every day. Mischu is located in the heart of bustling Sea Point and all day long you’ll see locals strolling in for their coffee fix. The staff at Mischu is super friendly but more importantly, the coffee is top notch. Mischu was established in 2012 and that year, they won awards for the Best Espresso and Best Cappuccino at the Cape Town Barista Awards. On a hot day, our favorite drink is the Cafe Freezo, a shot of espresso blended together with milk, ice and a splash of chocolate. Mischu is the perfect spot to plop down and get some work done, read the paper, or just watch the world go by through their open air front windows.

Origin is at the forefront of the coffee scene in Cape Town. As a wholesaler, roastery and academy, they are involved in the whole coffee process which means you’ll have your hands on some of the best beans possible. Aside from a perfectly balanced espresso shot, we also enjoyed their Vietnamese Iced Coffee. They have about ten different coffees available, an in-house bakery, and plenty of comfortable seating. The calm, soothing atmosphere is great for freelancers and digital nomads to get some work done or for travelers to take a break and relax with a world-class cup of joe.

Truth coffee is probably the most well-known cafe in all of Cape Town. For that matter, it’s probably the most well know in all of Africa. Truth Coffee’s steampunk atmosphere and creative drinks have won them the title of The Best Coffee Shop in the World (UK Telegraph). Truth is lively and often very crowded so we recommend going to Truth to socialize with people rather than to work or to read. Be wary as during the weekend or holiday times there can be a wait for a table. If you don’t need the full sit-down experience, you can order from their takeaway counter to save time.

If you are visiting the winelands outside of Cape Town, you will come across one of the best espresso shots in the country. This cute, little shop located in Franschhoek is a “must!” They roast their coffee right on site and pour delicious beverages for wine-drinking tourists and locals alike. They have outdoor seating where you can take in the views of Franschhoek and relax a bit in between wine tastings.

A general word of advice for iced coffee drinkers:

The ice coffee in South Africa might not be the same as what you are used to back home. Often times “iced coffee” is not cold coffee with ice but it is more like a blended, coffee milkshake. We’ve found the blended iced coffee drinks to be delicious but if it’s not what you’re expecting you may not be so happy about it.